By GARY ANDREWS
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Driving through the country the other day I noticed the words on a church’s front yard sign. It read, “You will never get ahead of someone you are trying to even with.” I thought to myself what a tremendous truth in these words.
So many of us go through life trying to be better than our neighbor or outdo someone in anything we try. It is human nature to be competitive in one form or another. Competitiveness is good when used in the correct form and not used in another person’s demise.
I remember growing up that I wanted to be the best at whatever I attempted. In sports I usually was one of the better players however when I came across someone that was better than me, I would slack up in my competitiveness or either drop out. I though the entire world knew I was the best and it should be evident to anyone I competed with and it was a given that I would be on top. It didn’t take me long to find out the world didn’t work this way and that I wasn’t the only one competing.
Many of us have found our self in similar situations when dealing with people, whether it is in business transactions or just friendly competitions. If we lose or feel we have been done wrong we sometimes go into a pattern of indecision or something even worse called holding a grudge. Holding a grudge against someone will only hurt you. Trying to get even or upstage someone that has done something to you or beat you in some type transaction will only keep you from doing the best you can in anything that you attempt.
Many times we spend more time trying to get even with someone and allow many opportunities of growth to pass us by. This is also time that we have lost and can never get back. Our prosperity relies on our attitude and desire to move forward instead of laterally toward what someone else is doing. We need to remember that we should forgive and forget.
All of us need to do the best we can at anything we try. If someone creates a problem for us we need to handle the problem or go around it. It should never get us into turmoil and keep us from looking ahead. There are always going to be someone who is going to try and ruin you or keep you from achieving your goal. When this happens remember what Paul said in Romans12:17; “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”
When we have been offended or mistreated by someone, go to that person and try to make amends, however do not try and get even with them for their foolishness.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the time we have on this earth. Let us use this time to praise you and get along with our fellowman. Amen.
Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Leviticus 19:18; Monday – Colossians 3:12-14; Tuesday – Proverbs 20:22-23; Wednesday – 1 Peter 3:8-12; Thursday – Proverbs 24:28-29; Friday – Romans 12:17-21; Saturday – 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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I read recently that a man went to church on the morning he was going to commit suicide. He felt he owed God one more chance of telling him why life is worth living. This man made the choice of going to church and one of the members greeted him with a friendly hello and extended hand in fellowship.
Having a need to talk with someone this man talked about what he was going to do and the other person showed a great concern for what he had just been told. He introduced the troubled person to one of the pastors of the church which led to a long counseling session which turned into a lifesaving adventure.
Many churches today have times of fellowship, meet and greet others before their worship services begin. I have been to many churches where this is happening and it is one of the best parts of the service that gets people smiling, hugging, and in a receptive mood for God’s word from the pastor. Visitors feel welcome and more in tune to the church family they are visiting. Who knows, someone’s life may be changed from a friendly “Hello”.
Paul stated in many of his letters that believers should greet each other with a holy kiss. In this day and time a kiss probably wouldn’t go over well but a friendly hand shake and greeting will. Some of the best friends I have today started with a handshake and a friendly smile.
Moving every few years my wife and I would visit several churches to decide which one God would want us to serve in. God has always blessed us immensely and led us to a church that we could serve in. Many of our decisions have been based on the response of the congregation to our visit and the friendliness of the congregation toward each other. There have many times we have visited churches that were cold, no one spoke, no one seemed to care, and people went to church because they felt it was their duty to do so. Believe me, there is a big difference in these churches and the reception one receives is going to lead whether someone joins the fellowship or not. Everyone wants to be respected and received with warmth from the people.
We have found that you can only serve God in a church where He is head of that church instead of one that has put God on the curb and trying to survive on worldly values and standards.
There are going to be some that say it doesn’t matter to them whether a church is friendly or not just as long as God is head of the church and His word is being taught. This is true, however I feel that warm receptive feelings in a church are a tremendous plus to the churches that are serving God and teaching His word.
Friendliness in church depends on you and not the church leaders. It is your attitude toward others that could make a life changing experience in someone else life.
Prayer:  Lord let me live my life in a way that is pleasing to you and not to the world. Allow me to be friendly and understanding to everyone I meet. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Philippians 4:4-5; Monday – Psalm 51:10-12; Tuesday –Luke 7:1-10; Wednesday - Ecclesiastes 11:7-10; Thursday – Colossians 4:5-6; Friday – 1 Kings 1:42; Saturday – Philemon 4-7.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By Gary Andrews
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It wasn’t long ago that I went to Sunday school with my brother-in-law. His class was a group of adult men and the love of Jesus was in them and they did not hide the fact of their intolerance of how the world is going in today’s society.
The name of the lesson was “Victorious” and the teacher, a Vietnam Combat Veteran, was well versed in the Bible and did a great job teaching and leading the discussion. Of course, as in many of our churches today, politics were talked about and how the church has got to get involved. It seems that over the last few decades the church has become complacent about mentioning politics from the pulpit because of fear of alienating someone or someone’s group. Many of us fit in the group that is afraid to speak up because we are taken in by their slander and undesirable ethics and speech. The Apostle Paul, writer of the book of Romans, described how each of us has to fight the inner battle to do what is right.
Paul tells us in Galatians 6:7-10, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
It is an everyday struggle for us to fight against the flesh of the world. We are the ones that have to decide what is right or wrong and do what the Lord leads us to do. All of us become so involved in our career and making money that we put away what is important and this is our church, Bible study, prayers, and Christian ministry. We become so self-indulgent that we actually hurt the church and our ministry with some of our actions out in the community. Lost people see us and judge us on our actions and reactions away from the church. Many times we are afraid to stand up for what is Christian and go along with the flow of the crowd.
In his early life Paul was an active opponent of the church and actually approved the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:54-8:1. He oppressed Christianity at every opportunity until his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road. After he saw the resurrected Jesus he became one of the most ardent Christians and was truly an apostle for Christ.
We have the opportunity of accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior and when we do God gives us the Holy Spirit whose power is greater that our sinful nature. He enables us to make decisions for righteousness and gives us the strength to overcome sin. We have to listen to our inner self and do the right thing.
Prayer: Lord I pray that I may display your strength through my actions. Lead me in my decisions to overcome sinful desires and do what is right. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Philippians 4:13; Monday – Romans 7:20-25; Tuesday -Joshua 24:14-15; Wednesday – Jeremiah 26:12-19; Thursday – Matthew 4:18-22; Friday – Psalm 119:28-32; Saturday – Hebrew189-12
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com

By Gary Andrews
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It seems to me that many in our society are trying to become something other than what they really are. We have so many reality television shows that tell us how to do things and how to live our lives. Young minds are seeing some of these shows and believing their lives can emulate the people on television.
We are becoming a fake world. Look around you and you can see how our political leaders are leading our citizens into a society that only follows and never leads. The reality television shows are doing the same thing. We are becoming dependent on what people tell us to do instead of being creators and self-designers of our own lives.
We see young women and men interviewing and dating other men and women on television trying to find true love. The internet is full of dating services soliciting input from unsuspecting people looking for happiness, true love, and total commitment from someone they have never met or had only a few days with. Yes, some of these can be true love at first sight and these couples may be together until death parts them, however this will be a very low percentage.
Television families have many problems as families of the real world do. The biggest difference is that television families seem to not work on their problems and take desperate measures against each other leading to stress and distress for everyone concerned. Real families should work their problems out and get them behind them, except we are listening and watching what the television tells us to do. Many people are in prison today because someone on television committed an act of violence and got away with it. People, in the real world it doesn’t work that way. You really do pay for your crimes.
What we need to realize is that these actors on television are working and when they are through they go home and, hopefully, enjoy a meaningful relationship with their real family. Too many of our youth are allowed to watch television and believe they can do what these actors are actually getting paid to do and that is paint a rosy picture for a bad situation.
I love to watch the old movie channels because the family situations seem more realistic and down to earth. There is very little violence in these movies and the good guys always win. There is also more family time together and they talk to each other, as all families should. They work out their problems together. These movies show families going and sitting in church together, then going home and having a family dinner around the table.
Our families of today are suffering immensely because we do not take time to talk and be together. One thing that you don’t see in these old movies is a family sitting around watching television, because there wasn’t any.
Think about your family. Do all of you sit and talk things through? Do you go to church together or does each one of you go in a separate vehicle? Do you share a family dinner without the television being on?
Not many of our families can answer yes to these questions because most of them are too busy watching television to see what their next move should be.
Prayer: Father God lead me away from the sinful programming nature of television. Even though it is a good medium in some ways, I pray that I glean from it what you would have me  to see. I pray that I can be a witness for you in all that I do. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 1 Samuel 8:19-20; Monday – 1 Corinthians 4:14-21; Tuesday – 2 Kings 17:14-15; Wednesday – Joel 1:1-7; Thursday – Psalm 112:1-9; Friday – Philippians 4:8-9; Saturday – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com